It is an excellent thing

"It is an excellent thing thanking the Lord. 

Singing Praises unto thy name most exalted."

These past few weeks there has been so much to rejoice about and be thankful for. 

Two weekends ago, we spent the weekend in Leo for my cousin Kray's baptism.   Nathan and I went out in the afternoon on Friday so that we could spend more time with family.  We stayed at Abby and Tyler's both nights.  Kacie taught us a new board game.

Scythe

Gideon playing with Parker

He thought Roxy was pretty cool

oh dear, I think we have a drummer

The rest of the family started descending Saturday afternoon. It became a mad house.

Pictures don't do it justice.

 The testimonies went well. Kray did good. He was so sweet.  I couldn't help thinking that every girl in the room was swooning. hehe. 

Post-testimonies everyone went back to Rita and Lorens to hang out eat any food that was left from supper. But, there was even more food. :) 

more games

:) I love crazy family gatherings.

Church was full. The baptisms went well. Gideon was pretty good for such a big crowd.  

After church we changed at Rita and Loren's and stayed a while playing games. 

The following week was relatively quite. Gideon and I mostly hung around the house. 

He loves taking out the trash

I have a stick!

Moo!

he likes to brush his teeth too

On Tuesday, I got an exciting phone call. :)  Jake called to say he was engaged to Rachel! Yay!  Rachel was at U of I when Nathan, Jake, and I were. 

One day that week I planned to go to the farm, but once we were loaded up, I couldn't get the van to start. My dad had to come charge the battery (thankfully that was the problem) and then we left for the farm.

Gideon got to play with Jack again. 

I love how these two are becoming friends.

About midway through the week I started getting a cold. Not a bad one, but we were supposed to sing the Messiah that weekend.  Saturday morning, we went to the dress rehearsal. I armed myself with cough drops and nasal spray and made it through without a problem. 

Saturday evening, Nathan and I stopped by the farm because the girlies were there.  Gideon had fun playing with Cadence.

So ornery

trucks with Grandpa

 Sunday.

I woke up with no voice.  I was pretty bummed that I wouldn't be able to sing in The Messiah.  We went off to church and planned to play it like I was going.  My voice came back part way and by noon, I was just coughing a lot.

Ron announced Jake and Rachel's engagement which was so much fun to be there for. 

The afternoon was Kristin and Caleb's wedding, so a lot of people I knew were there, which was fun.  Matt, Nathan, and I left half way through and headed to The Messiah. 

It was awesome. I truly believe God came though gave me a voice and kept me from coughing. I was able to sing the whole way through.  I wasn't as nervous as I had anticipated so I was able to think about what I was singing and feel the emotion of the piece. It was beautiful. I know we messed up a lot, but I loved every bit of it. 

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!  Isaiah 40: 9

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2

 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem, and the battle bow shall be cut off: and he shall speak peace unto the heathen: and his dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9:9, 10

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. Revelation 5:12, 13

After the Messiah, Nathan and I headed home where Nathan's parents and Mathew and Rebecca were watching Gideon. 

Gideon was happy that grandma read him books

That evening we finally got a picture of the happy couple. :) :) Eee! I am extremely excited.  Rachel is awesome.

:)

Monday and Tuesday, Gideon and I cleaned the house. He is such a little helper boy. He wants to do whatever I'm doing.

we dusted.

and later vacuumed with daddy

We swept the floor

Gideon of course made messes too.

Tuesday evening we hosted rotating potluck.  It was the only date that worked all month.  We had a good evening with good food.

 Wednesday, I worked on food for Thanksgiving.  And, then I had to do the dishes.

Mt. Dishes. From one day. I hate dishes.

Thanksgiving day, we were with Nathan's family.

Gideon all dressed up for church

playing after church

 We had a good day.  We stopped by the farm on the way home to see Rachel and Jake. We made them tell us their story. :)

Yesterday was a beautiful day.  Nathan had the day off so we got a lot done.

Gideon got a box

I burned leaves.

Gideon thoroughly enjoyed the leaves.

We had so many leaves. It took me all afternoon to burn them all.

Today, Saturday,  was another beautiful day.  Nathan got the lawn mowed for, hopefully, the last time, and I hauled all the ashes, that didn't go on the garden, to the compost bin.

Whoops. 

There must have been some live coals still, because we now do not have a compost bin. sigh.

We have so much to be thankful for and so many reasons to rejoice.  I'm so thankful that I got to kick of the holiday season by singing in The Messiah.  It's one long song of praise and adoration.

In Christ

~Michelle 

colder, darker, busier

We've been busy. But, at the same time, we've been stuck inside more because of the cold. Winter is going to be long.

Little stinker is getting smarter. And, with more knowledge comes more orneriness.  hehe. Gideon has discovered how to flush toilets, he's discovered the fun of unrolling toilet paper, he's starting to climb on things, and basically if it was safe before it's no longer safe.  His favorite word is 'No'. Which he says happily while he does the many ornery things. 

Back in October, we celebrated Eva and Gideon's birthdays with the Brakers. I made cupcakes.  Funfetti with green frosting and chocolate with mocha frosting.  Sadly I had issues with the decorating tips clogging (old chunky powdered sugar)  so they didn't look the greatest.  The mocha, by texture and color, looked so suspect that I couldn't stop giggling like a five year old.  I ended up just smoothing it into a big blob.

opening gifts

One Saturday morning, I met Kendra and Jessica K. in Peoria for breakfast.  It was wonderful to get together again and talk without kids.  It's hard to keep up friendships these days and I'm always so glad when we take the effort to get together again.


Gideon's hair. It was getting so long and shaggy again that I decided it was time for a real cut.

not so sure

Of course I didn't take an after picture. But, all pictures after are technically after pictures... hehe

We spent a Saturday getting our yard, garden, and garage ready for fall and winter. 

Gideon helping daddy clean up the mower

Mr. Gideon is a mama's boy. He loves to nurse and, though he can eat food, has no intention of giving it up any time soon.  That being said, his bodily functions are still that of a baby. Which lead to a pretty nasty blow out the other day.

so so awful. It was dripping down his legs. It was covering his high chair. 

It was nasty.

outside in his new coat

his new favorite book

Gideon had his one year check up. He's still short and chunky. But otherwise healthy.

playing with the doctors chair

One afternoon we went to the farm for combine rides and got to play with the girlies at the farm.

these two are stinkers

My dad's field is next to a pumpkin field.  I got a few pumpkins that had grown in to his field (so technically they're ours hehe).  That evening I made my own pumpkin puree.  

There is enough for 12ish pies! :)

Gideon likes to do what ever I am doing and be where ever I am. I've become relatively creative with things he can do.  

helping me stir a pot of apples....hehehe

I'm also very lenient with what he can do, if I get some peace and quiet to get things done. Play in/on the dishwasher? In the refrigerator? empty my drawer of containers and lids? Sure! If I can get the dishes done or supper cooked, whats a little energy lost or mess to clean up?

Saturday, the 27th,  We went to the big Martin wiener roast. It was too cold for any roasting, so it ended up a baked potato bar.  

Gideon and Isaiah "sharing" toys

Matt and Lena served lunch that Sunday.  

Gideon and Jack played in the cupboards

That evening, Nathan and I hosted a foster/adoption group. We invited anyone from church who had fostered or adopted over for supper.  We are still planning to foster, and now that we've switched agencies,  it could be sooner rather than later.   We had a wonderful evening learning about everyone's experiences. 

The next week was a busy week.
Monday I spent the day attempting to sew Gideon's Halloween costume. I am not good at sewing and I didn't have a pattern, so I pretty much winged it.  It turned out pretty good if you don't look close. 

Presenting: Our little Hobbit

hehehe 

Tuesday, Halloween,  My mom and I went to Sams and loaded up, because we were serving lunch that weekend. 

That afternoon, I took Gideon to Nathan's work to show him off.  And then stopped by Grandma and Grandpa's, Pearl's, and ended up at the farm.  

I'm not a huge fan of Halloween as a Holiday, but I fully support kids' imagination, dress up, and candy. 

look at that belly.

He was telling me something.

:)

Wednesday, I babysat for Jack in the morning.

They actually played well together. :)

It's going to be so fun to watch these two grow up.

That afternoon, I did another grocery run for church lunch stuff. 

 Thursday, I took a family a meal in the afternoon and made cinnamon rolls for church lunch that evening. 

so yummy.

Friday,  My mom, grandma and I set tables up at church.  Gideon was acting cranky and feeling a bit warm by the time we got home.

He wouldn't let me put him down for his nap.

When he woke up, I realized he had a low fever. So, he got a dose of Tylenol and a bath.

hehe funny face.

 He seemed to be acting better so we loaded him up in the van and headed out to Princeville (3rd weekend in  row) for Mary's pizza party.  He was a cranky little boy all evening. 

Saturday morning, Gideon woke up with a much higher fever and a rash all over. yay.   
Some of Nathan's siblings came over that afternoon and helped us put together sandwiches.  It took forever. And, Gideon had to be held non stop. 

600 sandwiches headed to church.

There was a young group invite so we had to make extra.

Sunday, we served lunch.  I quarantined Gideon in the kitchen with me, as not to get any other kids sick.  We had a good amount of food left over. We did it. And we survived.  bleh.

I realized that I haven't been in church in four weeks.  Gideon was sick, then I was sick, then Matt and Lena served,  and then we served. Ha.  Life never does slow down.

Monday, the 6th, was a semi-quiet day of catch up.

Gideon loves playing peek-a-boo with the laundry

Tuesday, I cleaned the house, made a meal for another family with a baby, and made supper for one of Nathans friends that evening.  'Q' is originally from Bangladesh (I think). He grew up in St. Louis but now he works in Peoria and doesn't have any family near by.  So we had him over for supper.  He brought us wine as a gift.  It looks so fancy but yuck. I still don't like it. hehe. 

too bad it doesn't taste good. :)

Gideon helped me do some yard work outside on Wednesday.

he liked walking through the leaves

And then yesterday, Thursday,  we had Nathan's brother and roommate over for supper. Philip is living here in Goodfield with Timothy for a month or so for school.  

After this weekend I think I have a quiet week.  It might be nice.

In Christ

~Michelle